09/17/2025
Meet our Chief Content Officer, Jakub Leps!
What is your job title / how long have you been working here?
I joined the company in 2000 and spent 14 years as its editorial director. Then, I served my home district of Prague 11 as deputy mayor for eight years. In January 2023, I rejoined Newsmatics full time as its Chief Content Officer. I am also a part-time lecturer at the University of New York in Prague and a member of the Prague City Assembly.
What do you enjoy most about your position?
I enjoy being part of a great team that gets things done quickly. For example, when Russia invaded Ukraine, Newsmatics launched a news portal dedicated to the war in just a few days. Similarly, we were among the first to introduce an AI press release generator. While some of our competitors were publishing press releases about preparing theirs, we were already inviting users to start using ours.
If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?
As a strong believer in democracy, I am afraid of anyone having too much power - including myself. Nevertheless, if I could make one wish, it would be for democracy to not only survive, but also to regain its strength worldwide. Achieving that requires strong, independent media committed to fact-based reporting, and educated citizens who make choices grounded in facts rather than fake news or populists’ promises. I’m proud to be part of a company that is doing its share to move us in that direction.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I enjoy spending time with my family, especially when we go on hikes in nature, travel around Europe, and visit Prague's tea rooms. I also enjoy playing the guitar and practicing Taiji.
Share with us your favorite quote.
"Hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out." —Former Czech President Vaclav Havel
You've led a data science team to launch products like Perspectify and other innovative tools in the news industry. Can you give us a sneak peek at any new tools or ideas to expand existing ones?
In today’s world, it’s becoming harder than ever to know which news is real and which is not. That's why we're intensifying our use of AI to help users decide which news to read and which to avoid.
